Thoughts on Spring

Is this the last big shovelful ???


When I look out of my window I see green snow! No, wait, it is grass, – !

I rode my Suzuki Bergman on Friday and on Monday, because the weather was above freezing; the sun was even out. Had to really watch for potholes, though!
Could the winter be waning? Could this season make room for “Lente” (the Dutch word for Spring)

I like this better than the “season of Lent,” which often has a negative focus of giving something up. Lenteh (pronounce the “teh”) has such a melodious ring to it.
It reminds me of lambs in the pastures and calves jumping for joy in the green meadows, the promise of flowers, the gentle warming of the air, even the renewed buzz of insects. (Now that’s heavy - looking forward to bugs...)

It has been a long season of “giving up.” There are some exiting winter activities, I’m sure. But, I like riding my bike or scooter, walk in the woods, and feel the warm sunshine on my face.

So, why do I live in Iowa? Primarily, so I can make these observations. To be able to appreciate warm sunshine, to anticipate the awakening of creation after winter’s sleep, to look forward to being outside in clothes which allow one to move. We have had a “good” winter. We have been active: working on crafts, creating train layout pieces, entertaining guests, teaching Bible truths, enjoying a nice warm home, do some remodeling, read, and shop. Winter slowed us down some, made us reflect on who we are and where we are going on life’s journey. It made me focus on the beautiful relationships we have. Another season is coming; the journey goes on! Life is good, God is in charge, and I am able to relax in that knowledge. I can’t change the changing seasons, but I can enjoy this season of life! May you be blessed by Lente.

Thoughts of Winter - 2

We are breaking records, this year! More continuous snow days than “ever.” Records are being broken and reset just about everywhere, not just in Iowa. Snow-white may be beautiful, but I would like some green gras, or even some uncovered dirt sometime soon.

To help pass the time, we are going to volunteer to help package meals with “Meals from the Heartland.” This is a community effort, usually in the fall, which provides nutritious, good tasting meals for the disadvantaged. Most of these meals go to Haiti. Because of the devastation, many more meals are needed. The local church where this program started a few years ago, is again providing space and help to do this interim packaging to help relieve the current need in Haiti. Besides, these are the types of activities we retired for, to be free to help wherever the need may be.

We still like to travel, but to be near home in the winter to work locally, fills a need as well. Not having to go somewhere when it snows, is definitely a benefit of retirement as well. But still, I think, that if we had not committed to teaching a Bible Study at our home this winter, we might have looked for another place to spend this season. Either way, we are here and we are having a great time enjoying home activities. Working on the train layout, digitizing some old cassette tapes, so we can play them on our mp3 players; some home improvements and so on.

Thoughts of Winter

Nearly a month has gone by since my last post. Winter has not, though!
We are expecting some of the snow to melt this weekend. Warmer temperatures and rain help with melting, but fast melting causes flooding concerns. I don’t worry about these issues. When contemplating people who lost whatever meager possessions they had, when crying with those who lost love ones in natural disasters, melting snow seems a minor thing. Besides, the snow will be just a memory by June anyway!

We say that time heals. The news shows pictures of the recovery of the Aceh area, 4 years past their earthquake and tsunami. The people in Haiti are suffering now. The future for them may be brighter than ever because of worldwide outpouring of aid and compassion; but the need is now.
Many of us feel frustrated by the inability of technology to provide instant help. Even a well oiled machine like the military with its internal structure and strength needs to accommodate the available infrastructure. You can’t drive a tank over rubble in an earthquake zone.

Haiti was poor already. That does not mean that the people there are less deserving. But the fact remains, that those who are poor and those who are distant from the mainstream, are at a disadvantage. We may be created equal, but we don’t grow up equal.

(This picture is in CapeTown)

Of Blizzards and Christmas celebrations

Oh, the joys of winter!

A monster storm kept those who “were not there yet,” where they were for Christmas.
We celebrated Christmas with just the two of us. We enjoyed a special dinner, which we prepared together and ate together.

We saw the sun today! The day after Christmas, cold but sunny. I was afraid this storm might be like “The Day After,” but so far people are moving about and the temperature is tolerable, even to take the dog for her walks. Fortunately we did not have as much snow as they had at many other locations. As a matter of fact, we had rain before Christmas and above freezing temperatures, which allowed some of the snow of the previous blizzard to melt away.

Next year is now less than a week away! We are looking forward to a good time with our children and friends during our celebration of “old-and-new,” when we “pray in” the new year. All of which is coupled with traditions from both our old and new countries.

Home Sweet Home

We are home again! The mid-west blizzard of December 8 & 9 went before us. We left Colorado Springs with sunshine and drove to Norton, Kansas. Here we spend time with good friends, a good meal, and a great night’s rest. Although there was an overcast sky for our trip on Saturday (12-12), we had an uneventful trip to Des Moines. Upon our arrival we visited with our daughter, who has been battling a persistent illness withe daily fevers. Corrie made soup for her and her husband on Sunday and we shared dinner together.


Some more snow on Monday, but we had enough food to wait with grocery shopping until Tuesday. We needed to stock up again; especially, with the Christmas and New-year’s holidays just around the corner.

That said, I wish all of you a Blessed Christmas celebration.

Madrigals at "the Glen"

In my previous blog I eluded to the upcoming Madrigals, to be held in the Great Hall of the Gen Eyrie Castle. We have been diligently working on the backdrops, which are completed and in place. We started back in the beginning of November to build the boxes. We made five 4x8 boxes with sides of one-by-fours. Using “bendie-wood” we constructed three half circle arches; two 4 foot wide, one 8 foot wide. The inside was painted semigloss white to prepare for light reflection.

This week just a few days before the first Madrigal Dinner, the replica stained glass windows, laminated to plexi-glass, came in and we were able to complete the backdrops. For lighting we strung about 180 soft white LED Christmas lights per box. The effect, as you can see, looks like a stained glass window backlit by the sun.


We are all looking forward to serving at the Madrigal dinner and performance. The focus is to celebrate the truth of Christmas, while enjoying a classic Madrigal event, including wassail, boars head, accompanied by period music and dance.

Just visit the Glen Eyrie web-site for more information. I will be working as a food-server on three of the performances. Corrie and I will also will be able to observe the totality of the experience from above, off the balcony of the Great Hall, during one of our nights off.


Our time here is winding down. We plan to travel back to our home in Johnston, Iowa, at the middle of the month.

Glen Eyrie in the Fall

Our month as "Pink House" host and hostess was over at the end of October. We have moved to another residence on the campus, here at Glen Eyrie.


We now live in the “Chalet.”
This is the small white building in the picture. We have also gone from winter to winter, with beautiful sunshine days in between.

It seems like we enjoy (or is it endure?) a winter (snow) storm every two weeks. The great thing about the weather here, is that the snow usually melts away a day after it stops falling. At least that has been our experience so far.

We have been busy doing other work now.
I have been manufacturing backdrop boxes for the upcoming Madrigals. The fronts are being printed. It will be a replica stained-glass window, depicting a nativity scene. We are also scheduled to help with serving the guests during the Madrigal dinner and show. Something we are really looking forward to, with joyful anticipation.

Corrie has been busy with phone calls, some other office tasks and dining room duty.

Because the Glen is going through a slower period this part of the year, we get to enjoy many “boxed” meals. The other single volunteers have been taking their meals at the Chalet with us.
It has become “dinner and a movie.” We have a DVD player for just that purpose!


During the past few weekends we have gone on some more hikes.
Both, in the snow and up on the rocks during beautiful warm fall weather.


During the half week after Veteran’s Day, the Pike’s Peak Cog Railway was offering substantial discounts for military personnel and veterans, who have a military ID. We took advantage of this and went up to the summit on November 12.
Reaching the summit was in question, as the wind was howling through the saddle at 12000 feet.
After we reached Windy Point at 12129 feet, the wind had dropped to below 50 mph, so we went on to the top.

With an ambient temperature of 23 degrees (F) and the wind at 47 mph, our noses detected about +1 degree (F). Cold to say the least! We had prepared by bringing warm clothes, yet we cooled off very quickly. The gift shop was a nice reprieve.